Chef Marcela Valladolid: Knowing When to Walk Away After 30 Years of Hustle

Chef Marcela Valladolid: Knowing When to Walk Away After 30 Years of Hustle

She was the first Latina chef to have a show on The Food Network, and she decided to walk away to create a legacy of her own. On this episode, Cristy Marrero and Ana Flores sit down with Emmy-nominated chef, author, and founder of Matriarca, Marcela Valladolid.  She launched her new business at 47 years old.  For 15 years, Marcela was one of the most recognizable Latina faces in food media. She had the shows, the cookbooks, the platform. And she walked away from all of it, not because she failed, but because she was exhausted from being the version of herself that someone else had designed. Marcela did as midlife women do: she reinvented herself. She built something entirely hers: Matriarca, a clean, intentional pantry brand rooted in the Latino community, Mexican culture, and two decades of earned trust. She did it at 47, raising her kids, learning how to surf in her downtime, and finally choosing the life she deserved.  On this episode, we talk about: * The real cost of walking away from the Food Network after 15 years * Why she says the hustle was physically draining her body and soul * How online cooking classes with her sister became the spark that started everything * The birth of Matriarca and why she needed the brand to outlive her * What going alcohol-free taught her about her own instincts * The wisdom of surfing at 47 * Why success is holding grief and gratitude in the same 24 hours * "In our culture, the more a woman sacrifices, the more sacred she becomes. But nobody is giving you a medal at the end." * What her Wisdom Era actually feels like: trusting her intuition without asking permission If you’ve ever felt “ungrateful” because you had opportunities you’ve never dreamed of, yet the dream became hustle and burnout, this episode is for you! Chapters:  00:00 - 01:55 Intro: ownership as reinvention 01:55 - 06:35 Being shaped by the network: "How short do you want it?"  06:35 - 09:40 Walking away from the pinnacle: "I was getting nothing but viewership"  09:40 - 13:20 "It was liberating": shedding the persona that drained her  13:20 - 17:10 The moment she knew it was the right call  17:10 - 23:00 The birth of Matriarca: building what the market was missing  23:00 - 29:15 Community as the foundation: they show up because she showed up first  29:15 - 34:00 Going alcohol-free and the personality behind the decision  34:00 - 38:10 The wisdom of surfing: no role, no fear, just you  38:10 - 43:40 "It was not a straight line to become a jefa": the messy process of success  43:40 - 47:20 "We are the elders now": the matriarchs she carries  47:20 - 51:00 What she wants her kids to see — not the company, the joy  51:00 - 54:30 "No medal for martyrs": breaking the sacrifice cycle  54:30 - 57:10 Marcela's Wisdom Era: trusting intuition for the first time  57:10 - 01:00:00 "Entre Sabias": Rapid-fire questions  01:00:00 Closing: Solitude as the essential ingredient Our podcast is bilingual, so our episodes will be in English, Spanish, or Spanglish, depending on our guests. You'll find them labeled in our feed, or you could use YouTube's dubbing feature to listen your way. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RXdkULADYMnsFdhJQpnVU?si=7b8417c8b6c642f4 [https://open.spotify.com/show/0RXdkULADYMnsFdhJQpnVU?si=7b8417c8b6c642f4]    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/co/podcast/her-wisdom-era/id1891507683 [https://podcasts.apple.com/co/podcast/her-wisdom-era/id1891507683]   Join us on Substack: https://www.herwisdomera.com/ [https://www.herwisdomera.com/]  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her.wisdomera/ [https://www.instagram.com/her.wisdomera/]  And YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@herwisdomera [https://www.youtube.com/@herwisdomera]  Her Wisdom ERA is hosted and executive produced by Cristy Marrero and Ana Flores,  Our producer and editorial coach is Laura Ubaté Theme music and sound engineering by Stephen Herman from Explosion Robinson, aka El Santo.  Social media by Team Belu.  Branding by Leticia Vidaurri We are Her Wisdom ERA, a global visibility and reinvention platform for Latina women in midlife. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Mónica Ramírez: The Lawyer Who Elevated the Voices of Women Farmworkers

Content note: this episode includes a conversation about sexual violence within movement spaces. Please listen with care. Did you know that 90% of farmworker women reported sexual violence at work as a major problem, and yet, almost no one has built a legal system to protect them? Until Monica Ramírez did. In this episode, Cristy Marrero and Ana Flores sit down with civil rights attorney, activist, and founder of Justice for Migrant Women, Mónica Ramírez: the woman behind the "Dear Sisters" letter that helped ignite the Time's Up movement in 2017. And in a moment you won't want to miss, Mónica speaks openly about how the Dolores Huerta and César Chávez case is so personal for her. What it means to witness a hero fall, how she showed up for her friend Dolores, the pressure she feels as a leader in this moment, and what she believes must happen next. Mónica is the daughter and granddaughter of migrant farmworkers from Fremont, Ohio, where she still lives today. At 49, she is pursuing her PhD while continuing to fight for the women the system has long ignored. She speaks without a filter about her relationship with power, personal wounds, a fallen hero, and what it truly means to win as an activist.  In this episode, we talk about: * Why Mónica's very first legal project was dedicated to her sister * The real story behind the "Dear Sisters" letter and who actually had the power * What it felt like to be a very young Latina lawyer in rooms that weren't built for her * How is she holding the Dolores Huerta revelation as a leader and as a friend * The grandfather and grandson who completed first grade together during the pandemic * Why giving yourself grace is the advice no one gave us soon enough * How Mónica is thinking about legacy, and making space for others to lead * Her definition of collective power If you've ever been the woman who holds everything together and wondered who is holding you, this one is for you. Our podcast is bilingual, so our episodes will be in English, Spanish, or Spanglish, depending on our guests. You'll find them labeled in our feed, or you could use YouTube's dubbing feature to listen your way.  Join us on Substack: https://www.herwisdomera.com/ [https://www.herwisdomera.com/]  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her.wisdomera/ [https://www.instagram.com/her.wisdomera/]  And Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@herwisdomera [https://www.youtube.com/@herwisdomera]  Her Wisdom ERA is hosted and executive produced by Christy Marrero and Ana Flores,  Our producer and editorial coach is Laura Ubaté Theme music and sound engineering by Stephen Herman from Explosion Robinson, aka El Santo.  Social media by Team Belu.  Branding by Leticia Vidaurri We are her Wisdom ERA, a global visibility and reinvention platform for Latina women in midlife.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Nunca es tarde para cumplir tus sueños, con Gaby Moreno (Español)

Gaby Moreno ganó un Grammy como artista independiente, le dijo que sí a Broadway sin pensarlo dos veces y lleva 30 años demostrando que se puede triunfar como artista independiente, sin seguir las reglas de la industria. En este episodio, Gaby habla con Ana Flores y Cristy Marrero sobre su debut en Hadestown, una oportunidad que le llegó a los 44 años, sobre el miedo de empezar de cero en algo que no dominaba, sobre por qué prefiere 400 personas a estadios llenos, y sobre esa noche en los Grammys en la que le ganó a Maluma con una canción acústica que grabó con Oscar Isaac. Gaby nos recuerda que la ambición no siempre significa más grande, que poner límites es lo que te permite seguir, y que a veces lo único que necesitas es decir que sí desde el corazón y la sabiduría. Capítulos: 00:00 - 01:47 Intro ¿Quién es Gaby Moreno? 01:47 - 06:42 ¿Cómo nació el sueño de Broadway? 06:42 - 08:12 Componer en inglés, sentir en español 08:12 - 14:00 Luna de Xelajú y la conexión con Óscar Isaac 14:00 - 15:25 Ganar el Grammy: "Mamá, yo voy a estar ahí un día" 15:25 - 16:59 La independencia: un éxito que te incluye a ti 16:59 - 26:06 Ser principiante otra vez a los 44. Broadway. 26:06 - 33:52 400 personas: redefinir la ambición 38:23 - 36:39 ¿Cómo cuidarse para 8 shows a la semana? 36:39 - 38:43 El poder de la manifestación 38:43 - 42:05 Nuevo sueño: un musical 43:12 - 45:52 "Entre Sabias": preguntas rápidas 45:52 - 47:53 Cierre Suscríbete para no perderte ningún episodio de Her Wisdom Era: conversaciones reales para latinas en midlife. Somos un podcast bilingüe, así que algunos episodios serán en español, otros en inglés y otros en spanglish. You can use YouTube's dubbing feature to listen your way. Sigue a Gaby Moreno: https://www.instagram.com/gaby_moreno/ Síguenos en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her.wisdomera/ Escúchanos en Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RXdkULADYMnsFdhJQpnVU?si=7b8417c8b6c642f4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/co/podcast/her-wisdom-era/id1891507683 Y Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@herwisdomera Her Wisdom Era es presentado por Ana Flores y Cristy Marrero. Nuestra productora es Laura Ubaté. Música original e ingeniería de sonido por Stephen Hermann de Explosion Robinson. Redes sociales a cargo del Team Belu. Identidad visual por Leticia Vidaurri. Producción Ejecutiva: Ana Flores y Cristy Marrero. Somos la plataforma global de visibilidad y reinvención para mujeres latinas en midlife. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Querida menopausia…con Gaby Natale (En Español)

¿Sabías que las latinas llegamos a la menopausia dos años antes que la media nacional? Y aún así casi nadie habla de esto en nuestras comunidades. Hasta hoy. En este episodio, Cristy Marrero y Ana Flores se dan a la tarea de romper con los tabúes con los que ellas crecieron. Por eso, hablan de todo lo que no nos contaron de la menopausia con Gaby Natale de Menopausia.com. Gaby es una periodista independiente ganadora de tres premios Emmy. Sobrevivió al cáncer de seno y entró en una menopausia médicamente inducida a los 46 años, justo en medio de su mejor año profesional. Lo que encontró al buscar información en español fue casi nada. Por eso creó menopausia.com, la primera plataforma digital bilingüe dedicada a la educación y comunidad sobre esta etapa para mujeres latinas. En este episodio hablamos de: ∙¿Qué es la perimenopausia y por qué empieza antes de los 40? ∙¿Cómo cambia la vida sexual y afecta la salud mental? ∙Por qué los médicos desconocen muchos síntomas ∙El diálogo interno que transformó a Gaby durante su tratamiento ∙La app con IA que está ayudando a mujeres en menopausia ∙Por qué decir tu edad en voz alta es el primer acto de revolución Si tu mamá nunca habló de esto, si sientes que algo cambió en tu cuerpo, en cómo te sientes, pero no sabes qué es: este episodio es para ti. Capítulos: 00:00 - 02:06 Intro 02:06 - 03:14 Las latinas y la menopausia  03:14 - 11:13 La historia de Gaby Natale  11:13  - 18:32 Cómo mantener la actitud cuando el cuerpo cambia  18:32 - 20:52 Los sofocos en Miami  20:52 - 21:36 Por qué nadie habla de esto en nuestras familias  21:36 - 27:54 Perimenopausia  27:54 - 30:19 La menopausia y la vida sexual 30:19 - 33:52 Por qué los médicos desconocen muchos síntomas 33:52 - 36:39 La menopausia coincide con el pico de liderazgo de la mujer  36:39 - 42:23 "Que se caiga lo que no se sostiene"  42:23 - 45:54 La app de IA para mujeres en menopausia  45:54 - 51:08 "Entre Sabias": preguntas rápidas  51:08 Cierre: el cambio empieza por nosotras Suscríbete para no perderte ningún episodio de Her Wisdom Era: conversaciones reales para latinas en midlife. Somos un podcast bilingüe, así que algunos episodios serán en Español, otros en Inglés y otros en Spanglish.  You can use YouTube's dubbing feature to listen your way.  La web de Gaby: www.menopausia.com  Conversa con nosotras en Substack: https://www.herwisdomera.com/ Síguenos en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her.wisdomera/ Escúchanos en Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RXdkULADYMnsFdhJQpnVU?si=7b8417c8b6c642f4  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/co/podcast/her-wisdom-era/id1891507683  Y Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@herwisdomera [https://www.youtube.com/@herwisdomera]  Her Wisdom Era es presentado por Ana Flores y Cristy Marrero.  Nuestra productora es Laura Ubaté.  Música original e ingeniería de sonido por Stephen Hermann de Explosion Robinson.  Redes sociales a cargo del Team Belu. Identidad visual por Leticia Vidaurri.  Producción Ejecutiva: Ana Flores y Cristy Marrero.  Somos la plataforma global de visibilidad y reinvención para mujeres latinas en midlife.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

"I'm Not Ready To Be Quiet": María Hinojosa on Power, Visibility, and Midlife.

María Hinojosa was the first Latina hired at NPR. She built a media empire from scratch in Harlem. She won a Pulitzer Prize. And now, she’s at the peak of Her Wisdom Era.  In this episode, Cristy and Ana sit down with the iconic journalist, author, professor, and founder of Futuro Media Group to talk about what it truly means to be visible as a Latina. María has spent nearly 40 years walking into rooms where no one expected her to stay and changing the entire conversation. But behind the awards, the titles, and the public persona is a woman who grew up feeling invisible, battled deep insecurity, and had to learn how to own her story without losing herself in it.  This episode is for every woman who has been the first, the only one, and is ready to keep shining in midlife. Chapters:  00:00 – 05:00 Intro: Who is María Hinojosa? 05:00 – 09:00 Growing up invisible 09:00 – 12:00 Being the first Latina at NPR  12:00 – 17:00 Ego and humility  17:00 – 25:00 The Pulitzer story: a friendship with Suave 25:00 – 40:00 Rewriting your story when the old one no longer fits  40:00 – What it means to own your power in your 60s 57:00 – Entre sabias Maria's memoir: Once I Was You https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Once-Was-You-Memoir-America/dp/1982128658 Her podcast: Suave https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suave/id1548544921 Futuro Media Group https://www.futuromediagroup.org/ Our podcast is bilingual, so our episodes will be in English, Spanish, or Spanglish, depending on our guests. You’ll find them labeled in our feed, or you could use YouTube's dubbing feature to listen your way.    Watch this episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@herwisdomera Or suscribe in your favorite podcast platform. Join us on Substack: https://www.herwisdomera.com/welcome [https://www.herwisdomera.com/welcome] Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her.wisdomera/ [https://www.instagram.com/her.wisdomera/] Her Wisdom Era is hosted by Ana Flores and Cristy Marrero. Our producer is Laura Ubaté.   Theme music and sound engineering by Stephen Hermann from Explosion Robinson. Social media by Team Belu. Branding by Leticia Vidaurri. Our Executive Producers are Ana Flores and Cristy Marrero.  We are Her Wisdom Era — a global visibility and reinvention platform for Latina women in midlife. #HerWisdomEra #LatinaWomen #MariaHinojosa #MariaHinojosaInterview #LatinaWisdom #LatinaVoices #WomenInMidlife #LatinaOver50 #LatinaInMedia #ImposterSyndrome #LatinaVisibility #MariaHinojosa #HerWisdomEra #LatinaMidlife #WomenOver50 #LatinoUSA #midlife  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.